Need for chiropractors increases
Jennifer Ditlevson Haglund
Northwest Chiropractic Clinic, located on Second Street, is one of several chiropractic offices in Maryville. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more people are seeking alternatives to pain management and overall physical wellness.
Before he became a chiropractor, Douglas Steiner of Maryville worked as an aircraft mechanic in the military and as a civilian. He’d always planned to go to medical school, but he wanted to make sure he was headed in the right direction.
While considering options in the medical field, Steiner spoke with the director of a chiropractic school. After that conversation, no other career made sense to him.
Seventeen years into his practice, Steiner said he gets a little busier each year.
Steiner is one of at least 10 chiropractors in Maryville. The most recent phone book lists five practices in Maryville, and 10 offices appear on Internet directories. Some of these offices have more than one practitioner.
“Everyone’s staying busy, so I guess there’s an increased need,” Steiner said.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Steiner’s right. Employment for chiropractors is projected to grow 17 percent from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than average for other professions.
Increased opportunities for chiropractors may be due to increased trust in alternative medicine. In addition, clients may be looking to avoid invasive procedures like surgery or medication.
“If we can heal somebody naturally, it’s a win–win for everybody,” said Rodney Smith, who has been practicing chiropractic medicine for 23 years.
Until he was 27, Smith worked in construction and masonry. Smith said he was drawn to his current profession because he had such good results whenever he saw chiropractors for lower back pain.
“That’s when I thought, ‘There’s something to this,’” Smith said.
Katey Lipiec, who worked her internship with Smith, opened her own practice north of Maryville in November. She grew up knowing she wanted to be a chiropractor because she watched her father helping her friends with seasonal and gluten allergies.
Lipiec said she’s seen an increase in clientele, and she said she thinks it is due to increased trust of natural approaches.
Smith attributed the openness to people using the Internet to research options for pain management.
“Drug and surgery options are needed in severe situations, but they’re wanting to use them as a last resort,” Smith said.
Chiropractors approach pain management by aligning vertebrae to relieve pressure on the nerves. They also manipulate joints at other places in the body, such as the knees or elbows. The idea, put simply, is to restore the body’s ability to heal itself by correcting subluxation, or misalignments. This redirects the nervous system’s energy from creating painful reactions to functioning as normally as possible.
The most common complaints Steiner treats include low back and neck pain and headaches, which are problems he attributes to work, stress, and play.
As technology changes, so will the areas of pain that chiropractors treat. Problem areas could move up the spine from the low back to the neck and shoulders.
In the last 20 years, chiropractors and other healthcare professionals have been educating people about finding more ergonomic ways to work at a desk, and how to counteract its effects with exercise. Smith said he expects to treat more patients with symptoms caused by constant screen time on mobile devices like phones and tablets in the next few years.
Chiropractors also often use other methods to achieve optimal health. Combining massage therapy, foot detox, ear candling, essential oils, nutritional supplements, and therapeutic ultrasound are just a few treatments.
Some clients consider chiropractors their primary care physicians. This can happen for several reasons. For some, it’s more affordable. Others may have had a negative experience at a hospital.
While he appreciates the trust, Smith said he’s well aware of his scope of practice.
Smith said he thinks that a lot of problems can be addressed through chiropractic treatments, even ones people might not expect. By using chiropractic techniques, Smith has seen patients improve or eliminate symptoms. He has adjusted infants and fixed colic, constipation, and he has helped some children avoid needing tubes for repeated ear infections.
“We’re not out curing all ear infections and other problems, but we are a great adjunct and other source to have,” Smith said.
Complementary care is also on the rise as more doctors and healthcare professionals are sharing information and expertise about patients.
Lipiec and Smith both shared that they see room for collaboration.
“We don’t have a close working relationship, but it is improving,” Steiner said. “For years, medical doctors didn’t want anything to do with chiropractic medicine…we’re not a bunch of quacks.”
Most insurance plans cover chiropractic services, but each policy differs in how extensively they provide regarding co-pay and how many visits will be covered.
